Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

84

Title

Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Mary Shelley's masterpiece follows Victor Frankenstein as he defies nature to create life, only to be horrified by his monstrous creation. The narrative explores profound themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God, set against a backdrop of Gothic terror and emotional devastation.

Summary up to 500 words

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's *Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus* unfolds through the letters of Captain Robert Walton to his sister, framing the tragic narrative of Victor Frankenstein. Driven by an insatiable ambition to unlock the secrets of life and death, Victor constructs a being from corpse parts and animates it during a stormy night. Upon awakening, he is not filled with joy but with horror at the creature's hideous appearance. Unable to endure the monster's visage, Victor abandons his creation, which immediately seeks revenge. The creature, initially innocent and yearning for love and companionship, is rejected by society and his creator. Abandoned and filled with rage, he vows eternal war against humanity, destroying Victor's loved ones, including his friend Henry Clerval and his fiancée Elizabeth. Haunted by guilt and the loss of his family, Victor pursues the creature across Europe. The creature, now a vengeful force, leads Victor to the Arctic, where they meet Walton. In his final moments, Victor urges Walton to destroy the creature. The monster, realizing his creator is dead and his vengeance complete, agrees to end his own life. He leaps onto an ice raft and perishes in the freezing waters, leaving behind a legacy of tragedy and warning against unchecked scientific ambition. The novel explores profound themes of isolation, the dangers of playing God, and the destructive power of unchecked ambition. Through the creature's eloquent defense and Victor's descent into madness, Shelley critiques the societal rejection of the 'other' and the moral responsibilities of scientific discovery. The story serves as a cautionary tale where the pursuit of knowledge without ethical consideration leads to inevitable destruction for both creator and creation.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-06-29 18:09 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Horror
• Science Fiction
• Gothic Fiction